For me at least, this 40 minute video is a pretty remarkable thing. Barack Obama speaking to a church charity about the role of faith in progressive society. He speaks as a Christian, but his words are thoughtful, attentive, tolerant, complicated. Even as an atheist I am persuaded and almost moved.

I do not play many games but here are two flash games I read about recently at MetaFilter and am now pretty much in love with:

Cursor 10 is a truly original, beautiful and downright exciting game - quick-witted, challenging, and ingenious. All you need to know: YOU HAVE 10 CURSORS. WORK TOGETHER. (not much replay value though.)

Shuffle is like curling or pool or shuffleboard, but with no walls, no nonsense, just balls and shootin' and your heart in yr mouth. Devilishly simple.

Like last year and the year before, I've compiled my favourite songs of the year at Said the Gramophone. This time: fifty of them. The prose is purple, the songs available in individual and zipped form, and I hope they bring some measure of spark to your accursed Thursday morning. Dan, Jordan and I also shared lists of our favourite albums of the year. Happy holidays!

For those who enjoyed it last time (and for those who didn't), I've again compiled my favourite songs of 2006 and made the top 35 available for download at Said the Gramophone, replete with typically Seanian prose. Like a breathless punch in the chest, etc etc.

"The Washington Post 's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this year's winners:"

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.